In today's bookstores, it's easy to find information about the "best places" to live. Such literature undoubtedly will concentrate on the positive aspects of life, such as numbers and ratings of golf courses, doctor/patient ratios, warm sunny climates, availability of cultural activities, status of educational institutions and the growth potential of the local economy.

But while these highly-rated metropolitan areas may offer ample opportunities to enhance your lifestyle, what happens when a major crisis strikes? What if:

a labor crisis halts the inflow of food and business goods? Will these
communities provide the basic necessities of life?

an economic crisis that threatens your pensions, investments and other
so-called "guaranteed" income?

a major earthquake or other natural disaster suddenly upsets the natural
social order for months at a time? Could you get out of harm's way if
massive social unrest erupts in the wake of a crisis?

an emergency clogs the area's freeways? Do you have contingency
plans to exit the area?

the "unthinkable" happens: nuclear war? Or have you thought about
the potential of a major terrorist attack on a U.S. city with chemical
or biological weapons?

It's easy to dismiss these threats during times of peace and prosperity,
but they are real. Not only that, but the probability of such events coming
to pass increases every year. Strategic Relocation: North American Guide
to Safe Places is an in-depth analysis of North America's safest places
to live. This book will help you look ahead for potential threats that
most other people fail to see or choose to ignore. It contains a complete
discussion of the strategies and relocation contingencies that will help
you avoid or mitigate each of the major modern threats, from national
disasters to economic collapse to nuclear war.

As a relocation expert, Joel Skousen also offers personal paid consultations
for those who want advice on selecting land or working out special contingency
retreat plans. He recommends that anyone interested in these services
read the book first. Contact Mr. Skousen at joel at joelskousen.com to talk about the book or for consultation.
No appointment is necessary.

Now for some good news: Here are my current ratings for the TOP 10 MODERATE
GROWTH, MEDIUM SIZED METRO AREAS that are relatively safe from strategic
threats, or where you have a good chance of mitigating those threats. These are
not the best areas, but the areas where most people who need to stay in the job
markets will find medium term security:

1. Boise, ID

2. Provo-Orem, UT

3. Beaverton, OR

4. Santa Rosa, CA

5. Greenville, SC

6. Winston-Salem/High Point, NC

7. Austin-San Marcos, TX

8. Grand Rapids, MI

9. Reno, NV

10. Madison, WI

For those of you on a tight budget, here are the TOP 10 MOST ECONOMICAL
STATES to live. These ratings take into consideration overall taxes, housing,
and cost of living. These ratings also exclude most large metro areas, where
costs are much higher than the state average.

1. Arkansas

2. Alabama

3. Louisiana

4. Texas (except Dallas Metroplex)

5. West Virginia

6. Oklahoma

7. South Carolina

8. Mississippi

9. Wisconsin

10. Tennessee

SOME STATES WITH TAX ADVANTAGES: This doesn't tell the whole tax story since
all states collect a lot of taxes. However, a person whose financial structure
or income structure is different from the average person can take advantage of
this by living in a state which doesn't tax his particular form of income or
spending patterns. There are more details in my book, "Strategic
Relocation"

STATES WITH NO INCOME TAX: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, Tennessee, New Hampshire (but has
5% tax on div/int) , So. Dakota, Texas, Washington, Wyoming.

STATES WITH NO SALES TAX: Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, Oregon,

STATES WITH NO INCOME OR SALES TAXES, BUT HIGH PROPERTY TAXES: Alaska, New
Hampshire.

STATES WHO SHARE A BORDER WITH NO SALES TAX/NO INCOME TAX STATE: In these
states, you can live in a no income tax state and shop across the border in a
no sales tax state: Washington/Oregon Wyoming/Montana So. Dakota/Montana

As you can see, it can be rather enjoyable or frustrating doing this kind of
analysis, depending upon where you presently reside. I hope you will enjoy the
entire book, which offers many more areas of interest to analyze.